Being Courageous

   In 2012, the cruise-liner, the Costa Concordia struck a reef off Italy’s coast, ripping a 160 foot hole in the ship’s hull.  The ship quickly filled with water and tilted right, trapping passengers and making it difficult to deploy lifeboats. 
   Less than 36 people died (Titanic had over 1500 die).  Worldwide, people heard about this wreck because of its cowardly captain, Francesco Schettino.  By intentionally sailing too close to shore, he was responsible for the accident, responding by abandoning ship while people were still trapped on board. 
   Many people were in great danger when he got into a lifeboat, sailing away from the shipwreck.  He gave excuses for his actions, saying he had tripped and accidentally fallen into a lifeboat.  Recorded conversations revealed his cowardness.   While in the lifeboat, Schettino was repeatedly told by the Italian coast guard to go back on his ship and coordinate the rescue efforts, but gutlessly refused.
   It is so easy to do the wrong thing.  Most often, doing the wrong thing takes less effort and time than the right thing.  Would it not be wonderful if doing the right thing took little or no effort and it was the easiest decision to make?  Life is not that way and doing the right thing often takes maximum effort and courage.  
   If getting back on the boat he shipwrecked was ea ...

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